For close to 40 years, the Flake family has taken the Town of Snowflake’s wastewater effluent, or reclaimed water, and used it to irrigate farmland. Both parties are now questioning whether continuing that agreement is in their best interest, and met to discuss it at the May 10 town council meting.
Representing the Flake family were Jay and Mark Flake, who plan to change the land use from agricultural to sand and gravel operations. Also present was Arlene Flake. She and her husband Gerald have been farming the land that takes the effluent.
Town Engineer Rob Emmett explained that last year when Gerald Flake applied to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) for a renewal agreement that allowed them to use the effluent, staff began discussing where they were in the situation.
“One of the challenges we identified was that the town didn’t have another alternative for disposal of wastewater effluent,” said Emmett, noting they average from 250,000 to 300,000 gallons per day. Emmett explained that they have another permit, but they have lost the ability to discharge to that location so they initiated discussion with the Flakes that would allow the town to put effluent on the land for five years while they work through the process of approval for a sand and gravel operation.
Mayor Kelly Willis thanked the Flake family and said, “We realize the great contribution you have made for us to take our effluent and have some place to put it. I understand this has been going on for 40 years, somewhere in that neighborhood. That’s a lot of water.
“The question I have at this time, just for my benefit more than anything else, is has this been a win/win situation for the city and the family? Is this water being used for your benefit?” the mayor asked.
“It’s reclaimed water and sewer water; there’s limitations with what you can grow on the property with this kind of water,” said Jay Flake.
“So are you feeling like the water you’re receiving is not wanted?” asked Mayor Willis.
Flake responded, “We haven’t discussed that.”
Mayor Willis was questioning why after 40 years there is a written agreement that requires the town to pay $2,700 each month beginning Dec. 1, 2010.
Town Manager Paul Watson explained that initially the town was seeking a land lease agreement so the town could continue the effluent flow on the land. “It was a contract that would lease the land and we tried to come up with a monetary amount,” he said.
Watson explained that this was in the ball park of a fair lease amount and they drafted the original agreement, which was for land use; however, during negotiations the Flakes said they were not interested in a land lease so they came up with a water use agreement at a rate of $2,700 a month.
“The relationship’s been enjoyed by both parties for 40 years,” said Councilman Jason Whiting. “What has changed in the relationship other than it changed from a handshake to paper?”
“The projected use of the property,” responded Jay Flake.
“The city approached us with this proposal,” said Jay Flake “We haven’t discussed it with Gerald (Flake), what benefit it is to him; it’s no benefit to us.”
Whiting said he felt it would make more sense to sit around the table and discuss the issues and look at the time frame.
Mayor Willis explained that the town’s long-term plan is to take the effluent to the golf course, but “that will cost quite a bit of money. The short term is to take it to a wash where its viable to go into the Silver Creek. Engineering is being done on it as we speak.
“Our feeling is, our money would be well spent to hurry along this process to get the water back where it needs to be and lessen the cost to the town,” said the mayor. “What we’re hoping for is to lessen the cost of this and use the town funds putting it into the project where it needs to be going, to move it into the wash.”
“I’m not seeing where the money is coming into play. The conditions haven’t changed,” said Whiting.
“Realistically it’s polluted water, it’s sewer water. I know it’s reclaimed water. I haven’t seen anybody out there taking a drink, its not clean water,” Jay Flake responded.
Councilman Chris Brimhall asked for a timeline to have the pipeline in place and the cost.
Emmett said the cost to construct the line was estimated at $175,000, and it would take two to three months after construction began.
“At pretty much the same cost as what we’d be taking with the Flake’s property,” pointed out Brimhall. “I say we move forward as fast as we can (with the pipeline).”
Councilman Tom Poscharsky pointed out that they didn’t know the actual cost for additional treatment to get the effluent to the wash.
Emmett said that the money saved on chlorination would be about the same as it would cost to de-chlorinate the water to put into the wash.
“I think we have a lot of open issues, we have a responsibility to the town,” said Poscharsky. He then moved to table this item until they get more information. His motion also stated that the item would be brought back by the mayor or a council member.
Whiting said he felt that this was new information to the Flakes, and they should have time to discuss it.
The motion passed unanimously.
“I’d like to point out that we appreciate what you’ve done for the town, for 40 years you’ve been taking that water. It has been some benefit to you. If you’d like to, take that back and think it over,” said Mayor Willis.
